Antonio Rudiger wants to reunite with Chelsea's Kai Havertz as Real Madrid reportedly pursue striker

Former Chelsea centre-back, Antonio Rudiger, has expressed his desire to once again play alongside Kai Havertz amidst ongoing speculation that the German forward could be targeted as Real Madrid's replacement for Karim Benzema.

Real Madrid find themselves in need of a new striker after Benzema's departure to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad in a staggering £200 million per season deal. The French international leaves Los Blancos as the most decorated player in the club's illustrious history.

While Harry Kane remains the club's top choice to fill the void, Manchester United's interest in Kane and Tottenham's reluctance to negotiate a sale has led Real Madrid to consider Havertz as their backup plan. Chelsea has set an asking price of £75 million for the talented forward.

Having won the UEFA Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, alongside Rudiger, Havertz's potential arrival at Real Madrid excites the centre-back. Rudiger, now a Real Madrid player since last summer, remarked, "Playing with Havertz again at the club level would bring me joy," in an interview with AS.

However, he acknowledged the limitations of his opinion, stating, "Unfortunately, I cannot provide much insight regarding transfers. Such decisions rest with the club."

Havertz and Rudiger have also formed a close bond while representing the Germany national team, ever since Havertz's senior international debut in 2018.

Earlier this season, Bayern Munich expressed interest in acquiring Havertz, which would have resulted in a reunion with former Chelsea colleague and current Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel. Although the move did not materialize, Tuchel's influence helped Havertz thrive at Stamford Bridge.

Despite the speculation, Havertz has expressed contentment at Chelsea, stating, "I have a two-year contract, and I don't feel the need to move every few years. London feels like home to me, and I have a deep affection for the club, its people, and the fans. Football is unpredictable, so we'll see what the future holds. I'm not preoccupied with that at the moment," during an interview with German outlet SportBild's Podcast Phrasenmaher.